'My 11-year-old son's death was easily preventable'

Maria Dennis told the BBC she supports the campaign by Sussex Police

A mum whose son, 11, died due to a motorist’s lack of care is supporting a police campaign to crack down on dangerous driving in Sussex.

Harry Dennis was travelling as a passenger in his father’s car when he was struck by an unsecured scaffolding board from an oncoming vehicle in Hooe, East Sussex.

His mother Maria Dennis is now supporting Sussex Police's Operation Spotlight, where officers enforce road safety rules by spot-checking drivers and their vehicles.

Inspector Pete Swash said: “No one wins out of a fatal road traffic collision. We will educate where necessary, but enforcement is key for us.”

The Health and Safety Executive said there was nothing to prevent the movement of the scaffolding boards

Sussex Police hopes the project will address what it calls “the fatal five" - speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone while driving and the dangers of insecure loads.

Ms Dennis said: “Most things are simple, that you can change yourself. Just double check the load is secure or turn the phone off so you don’t fiddle around with it.

“One simple thing that should have been done wasn’t done, and that took Harry’s life away in the blink of an eye.

“It is so easily preventable. That’s what makes me so cross. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Officers will be spot-checking people across Sussex until the end of July.

Russell Le Beau, 34, from Eastbourne was driving the van from which the scaffolding board came.

He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to four years in prison.